Taxi price hike

Metres will now start at Dhs20 if you're taking a taxi from Dubai to Sharjah

Bad news if you work in Dubai but live in Sharjah, your taxis just got Dhs20 a day more expensive. Taxis from Dubai to Sharjah, and any other Northern Emirates, will now start at Dhs20. "The starting fare of Dhs20 is not just from Dubai to Sharjah, it is applicable on trips from Dubai to other Northern Emirates including Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah," said a senior official at the RTA. However, he said there is no change of starting fare for passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi, Hatta, Al Ain and Fujairah.

The Dubai move reciprocates a similar measure by Sharjah Transport Corporation which set the starting taxi fare at Dhs20 on December 1 for passengers travelling from Sharjah to Dubai. According to the RTA official, the starting fare has been increased as an incentive to taxi drivers who often refuse to take passengers from Dubai to Sharjah and vice-versa with the excuse that inter-emirates trips waste their time due to heavy traffic. They said that it took at least a couple of hours for a round trip and sometimes they earn only Dh20 to Dh30.